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Hard Wood #1

Hard Wood

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Cat Milnick’s Summer To-Do List

1. Get my new brewpub up and running.
2. Ignore the wickedly handsome Dom Wilde and his kinky furniture.
3. No more carpenter puns. Screw and hammer. Tongue and groove. Nail gun.
4. Focus on the beer.
5. Remember: If I fail, I’ll have to go back to working for my evil ex-boyfriend.
6. Don’t get turned on when Dom calls me his little spitfire in his sexy, smoky growl.

And above all, don’t get too attached to his...ahem...‘hard wood.’

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2018

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About the author

Tara Crescent

111 books1,091 followers
Tara Crescent writes steamy contemporary romances for readers who like hot, dominant heroes and strong, sassy heroines.

When she's not writing, she can be found curled up on a couch with a good book, often with a cat on her lap.

She lives in Toronto.

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5 stars
531 (51%)
4 stars
326 (31%)
3 stars
144 (13%)
2 stars
29 (2%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
3,175 reviews2,742 followers
May 28, 2020
Standard formulaic romance!



This is pretty much your standard romance where the guy has commitment issues because his father left him when he was a kid. He only has short sexual relationships with women and lets them know the score ahead of time, so if they get other ideas or want happily to ever after from him, then it is not his problem. He told them it would only be sex when they started.

“One of my recurring nightmares is that a woman has moved into my apartment without me having any recollection of how it happened. I’ve always woken up from that particular dream, my palms sweating and my pulse racing.”


Catherine (Cat) moves to town to open up a new Brew Pub And soon meets Dominic (Dom). The attraction is immediate and he lets her know from the beginning that he is not a good man and he could only offer her sex. Cat is extremely busy and stressed out and takes what Dom is offering in order to de-stress.

Like the formula goes, it’s not long before both parties start to feel the love for each other though and that is where the complications begin since neither wants to admit their feelings have changed.

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Profile Image for Lana Reads.
479 reviews235 followers
July 26, 2020
3,5 stars

It was sweet enough and I liked the characters... Even if I definitely expected something dirtier. It dragged at times and I skipped some repetitions, BUT the author did a fantastic job, portraying a female brewer, really knowing her shit and delivering it believably. Plus she gave us some fine character growth in a pretty short story, so yeah, I loved that parts.

It was a bit kinky, a bit sweet, sometimes funny - and quite enjoyable.
Profile Image for Chalice.
3,764 reviews114 followers
November 19, 2021
The couple: Dom and Cat

Romance genre: contemporary
Series: Hard n' Dirty
Length: 205 pages

Plot: Cat is new in town, where she is opening up a brew pub with an old friend. She meets Dom, a local carpenter, when his delivery boy accidentally delivers a bdsm/spanking chair to her pub instead of the bar top she ordered. She stomps down to his shop intent on yelling at him about the mistake. But it turns out that they were both very attracted to one another. The problem is that Cat needs to focus on getting her pub up and running and Dom doesn't really do relationships. Neither of those things stops them from gravitating back toward one another over and over.

Commentary: The back and forth! Usually, I hate that in a book, but in this case it made sense. They are both practical, focused people, and Cat knew what she wanted. She just didn't count on also wanting Dom. I loved that he just dabbled with the bdsm stuff, and that it wasn't the focus of his relationship. He explained his ideas about that well. This was a fun couple, and there was no ridiculous new adult drama - just the normal adjustment necessary when starting a new (surprise) relationship.

Next book in the series: Blaze
Profile Image for Renee.
5,330 reviews76 followers
September 3, 2018
I received a coy of this book from the publisher/author to review.

Hard Wood by Tara Crescent is the third book in the Hard and Dirty Series. This is a collection of standalone novels by several different authors.

This is the second book in this series that I have read and I am loving them. This is the story of Cat and Dom. Cat is a craft beer maker. She works as hard or harder than any man and along with some friends is opening a brewery in their small tourist town. She is also a to do list maker to keep herself on tract but she finds that opening this business has left her with maxed out credit cards and hardly any cash. Dom is a woodworking craftsman in the same town and the two of them have not met until their is a delivery mix up and Dom's sex chair goes the brewery and the brewery bar goes to Dom. The minute these two meet the sparks are flying and you can feel the heat melting off the pages. However Dom is the kind of guy who is a hit it and quit it kind of guy and Cat doesn't know that she can deal with it but she sure can not fight her attraction to Dom. You guys are going to love this story. I highly recommend it. It's filled with so much heat it just might melt your kindle.
Profile Image for Tai Nelson-Barnes.
2,833 reviews75 followers
September 12, 2018
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I love Tara Crescent and was so excited to read this story in the Hard N' Dirty series and it really did not disappoint. The characters are very interesting and the chemistry is off the hook. The only issue I had is that I felt like I was coming into a series because of the other characters. Like everyone had their own stories and I should already know their love stories.

But when it comes to this story it is pretty dang good. Cat has just moved to the same town as Dom to start a brewery. She is a tightly wound woman that knows this is all she has and needs it to work. But when she meets Dom she finds something else she really wants too.

Dom is a carpenter and is good with his hands. He made some items for Cat's new restaurant and they become friends. But the chemistry is just too much for him to ignore. But Dom has a problem with commitment. So what will he do when he finds himself falling for this wonderful woman that has fallen into his lap?
Profile Image for Rhonda.
3,803 reviews63 followers
August 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this story about a brewmaster, who happens to be a woman and a carpenter. Cat and Dom meet when he is hired to build some items for the place her and her friend are opening! It was a story I got totally engrossed in as the characters were very well written and the story was great. The sex scenes are hot and steamy with some light BDSM but nothing heavy. Great story and I'm really hoping we see more of some of the secondary characters in this book.
Profile Image for Emily.
285 reviews16 followers
May 25, 2021
The Title Says It All: a steamy Rom-Com – in spades!

Hard Wood, by Tara Crescent, gives us the tale of hard-working and down-on-her-luck brewer, Catherine, who is investing in a small-town brewpub with her best friend, Vicky. She meets Dominic, a woodworker and a confirmed commit-o-phobe. Although he can melt her panties with just a look she, too, is totally focused on opening her brewpub and she vows to avoid romantic relationships. Of course, the storyline takes these two on a totally different tack!

I always enjoy books by this author. She is a fine writer, her stories are engrossing, and the writing is well-edited. There is just the right amount of giggles, and the accompanying suspense is enough to make things very interesting. Dominic is an experienced bdsm player, and this adds spicy interest as he gently leads Cat in her first experiences with bondage and discipline.

I cannot recommend this fun book enough. 5 stars.
Profile Image for Maddi.
125 reviews
October 19, 2023
Perfect amount of sweet and spicy.

✔️ Hard working man
✔️ Hard working woman
✔️ Light, well written, normalized kink
✔️ HEA (bonus, the HEA doesn't end with a kid!)
Profile Image for Nyrog.
33 reviews
August 24, 2018
3.5 stars



Spoilers to follow...


I enjoyed the characters of Cat and Dom, they are both good people and they share a passion for working hard. They have an instant connection, and some steamy scenes. I love how they brought out the best in each other and changed their lives for the better. I thought the main conflict in the story was resolved a bit too quickly and easily, a little more angst is maybe in order to draw out the story further. I felt the BDSM was a little random, and maybe didn't fit the story, nor the characters. Overall another good read from Tara Crescent!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Pam.
401 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2018
Hard n’ Dirty, Book 3. When a feisty, driven brewmaster meets a dominant, unyielding carpenter, sparks fly!

Catherine Milnick’s had it. Her career’s nearly tanked. Her ex-boyfriend and coworker stole her beer recipes, making him a gold medal winner. She knows she’ll never make it in Toronto’s male-dominated brewing industry. That’s when she and her best friend, Vicky Egan, come up with a solution. A brewpub in small town Madison, Ontario. It’s perfect. Or is it? Cat’s invested all she has to make her dream come true. She’s tapped out. But is Vicky truly all in? She wouldn’t abandon Cat, not at this point, would she? As Cat struggles to make the brewpub a reality, Dominic Wilde shows up. Dominant, hot, and over-the-top gorgeous, there’s no denying the instant magnetism. But Dom makes it abundantly clear he wants nothing to do with any relationship. Despite the scorching heat between them, all he’ll ever want is sex. Can Cat accept this? Doesn’t she deserve a break after what happened in Toronto? But there are hidden forces at play. Not all is as it seems. As Cat and Dom navigate uncharted territory, there’s a new challenge around every corner. Then Cat’s world tilts upside down. Dom, her brewpub, her entire life, are in danger. Are there any answers? Can the brewpub be saved? Or will Cat’s dream be destroyed, and her life with it?

Tara Crescent has taken a new direction with this book, and I more than enjoyed it. The entire story is unique. Cat’s a very special woman. On one hand, she’s detail-oriented, focused, a perfectionist. Her life has consisted of two things, the most important of which is her career. In the background she hopes to someday find true love. But she’s vulnerable too. Supposed love, true betrayal, knowing she has to work twice as hard as any man to get what she wants has made her more than a bit cynical. Enter Dom Wilde, who’s the opposite of what she thinks she needs. Dominant, arrogant, blunt, charming, unexpectedly kind, knowing exactly what he wants…and it ISN’T love and marriage. But nothing about these two is predictable. Yes, there’s chemistry and blistering, off-the-charts heat between them. But this is more than just another hot BDSM-themed book. It’s the story of two imperfect people with faults, idiosyncrasies, and dreams, people like you and me. That’s what drew me in. What’s makes this book outstanding is the supporting characters. Without Dakota, Vicky, Zach, Sandra, Roger, and the others, the story would be incomplete. Add in the beautiful Canadian settings of Toronto and Madison, and you have the perfect combination. I’ve read my fair share of Tara Crescent books. She’s always been multi-talented in so many ways. But she’s just added another dimension to her repertoire, and this book is a breath of fresh air. I truly loved it. Congratulations, Ms. Crescent. You have another winner on your hands! This book deserves nothing less than five stars.

A final note. This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and BDSM sexual scenes. If you don't enjoy this genre, this may not be the book for you. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and Amazon websites. Use these resources. DON'T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON'T ENJOY THE BOOK. It's not fair to the author. She works hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you'll object to a book's subject matter before you buy it, you're doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
Profile Image for Kristin.
321 reviews17 followers
August 27, 2018
A Sweet & Sexy Romance With A Touch of Spicy = 4 1/2 Stars

Hard Wood is a sweet and sexy romance with a bit a spicy thrown in by Tara Crescent. The story takes place in the small town of Madison.

Cat is a strong and determined woman. She moves to town to open a brewpub with her friend. Cat is a brew master. She is a very talented female beer maker. She is hoping for a fresh start after her ex-boyfriend stole her recipes. Cat is mostly working by herself on the brewpub while the deadline of the approaches. Cat doesn't like conflict and avoids it at all costs.

Dom is a sexy and confident alpha male. Dom is also a very talented carpenter. He avoids relationships and likes to keep things casual. When there is a mixup with one of the deliveries, Dom meets Cat.

After having a bad morning and then receiving the chair instead of the bar top, Cat gives Dom a piece of her mind. Dom loves Cat's fire. He calls her spitfire. Dom offers to show Cat how the chair works. The chemistry between Cat and Dom is scorching hot. Both Dom and Cat are very hard working adult, who dedicated to their careers. They have to decide if they can keep things casual or if they even want to.

Hard Wood has a well written story with a unique storyline, intriguing and well-developed characters, romance, steamy scenes, and a sweet & bossy alpha male. I loved the chemistry between Dom and Cat. I adored this story and recommend it to others.

Overall Story - 4 1/2 Stars
Chemistry - 5 Stars
POV - Dual POV
BDSM - Some, Very Light (blindfolds, etc)
Cliffhanger - No
Recommend to Others - Yes
180 reviews10 followers
July 23, 2021
orange book cover with hammer almost turned me away - but really loved Dom

POV: dual
HUMOR: yes
F BOMBS: yes
CLIFFHANGER: no
NEW AUTHOR FOR ME: no
TRIGGERS: light BDSM, one time anal play (no fifth base)

CHARACTERS: Pink-haired Catherine "Cat" (mid to late 20s) is a beer brewer meets commitment-phobe Dominic "Dom" (31) and they are instantly attracted to each other. Cat was ok, but I loved Dom's action-speaks-louder-than-words attitude. Though he never went longer than a month dating a girl, he was at least honest and a gentleman. He was also very good at knowing when to back off and when to step up. They had off the charts chemistry and their sexy time was smoking hot!

Although I love this author's humor, the cover with the orange background and hammer was a wee bit corny for me (sorry) so I almost passed on this book. But since I recognized the author and have enjoyed her work before, I took a chance on this. If you're concerned about the "I don't like to commit to girls but at least I'm honest" bit by the male main character, then please be patient but continue reading. You'll see Dom has more depth than that. Also, that when the right person comes along, you're more willing to face your fear of commitment or surpass it.

If you want something sweet, see growth in both main characters as the story progresses, enjoy romantic comedies, chemistry, and steam, then this is definitely for you. Four stars because I subtracted one for the book cover. Hope you enjoy the story and Dom as much as I did.
408 reviews6 followers
June 4, 2020
Good, not great

This is a pretty simple story. A little steamy and what little angst there is is cleared up quickly. I want to give major credit to the author for deviating from the typical leading man who is beyond arrogant and refuses to take no for an answer. When Cat tells Dom that she just doesn't have time to continue their affair he immediately backs off and let's her find her way back to him. Finally! I really never thought I would read a book in this genre where the guy didn't totally disregard what the woman had to say. No means no and I'm really glad an author finally got it right. Unfortunately Dom was totally what you would expect in another way. The first time he meets Cat she is upset with him so he spends the rest of the book calling her his little spitfire. So so stupid. Men giving women condescending nicknames needs to stop. Kitty Cat isn't any better. But i guess I'm happy with a little progress in giving us a better leading man. I'll read the next book.
416 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2022
Absolutely GREAT!!

“Hard Wood: A Steamy Romantic Comedy” is fast-paced, great characters, suspense and discovery. Tara Crescent is a talented writer who gives us a book that is sweet, has sexy romance and lots of spice mixed with mystery. I loved reading the story of Cat Milnick (Catherine) and Dom Wilde (Dominick). The chemistry between them is off the charts and filled with laughter and romance.
The supporting characters show how nobody’s perfect but as true friends they stand with us and support us. Dom is Hot and sweet but doesn’t do relationships. Cat has broken up with her boyfriend, is focusing on opening her new business and doesn’t trust any man. Well, life doesn’t always go as planned. Lol The ride is filled with everything from page one! There are twists and turns from the beginning, and I found myself swept up in the story, and I honestly couldn’t put it down. Time for you to see how they get to their happily ever after. Enjoy another great read from Tara Crescent.
1,123 reviews11 followers
November 6, 2022
This was a cute and entertaining novel with fun, sassy characters.

For Dom and Cat the chemistry is off the charts almost from the minute Cat waltzes into Dom's barn yelling about the sex chair that was delivered to her brew-pub. With just weeks to go before her opening Cat doesn't have time for incompetance. With her family and personal experience she doesn't trust herself around guys like Dom even though there is something about him she can't seem to get enough of.

Dom is drawn to the spitfire personality Cat demonstrates from their first meeting and every day thereafter. He doesn't do relationships, But Dom can't seem to get enough of the towns newest resident. When a local tries to cause trouble with Cat's business Dom can't help but come to her rescue to prove with his actions that he's the man for her.

I really enjoyed this book.
1 review
August 23, 2018
Meet Cat, owner of a soon-to-be opened brewpub, and Dom, an inventive, master carpenter. They meet when Cat's partner, Vicki, orders a custom made bar from Dom.
Of course, they're attracted to each other, but problems come up when Dom's new helper accidentally delivers a sex chair to Cat's pub, and the bar top to the customer the chair was meant for. While dealing with Vicki's inability to get things done on time, sabotage against Cat to get to Dom, and Cat's leaky, cold, wet cabin, they get closer together.
The story is well-written, the characters well-developed, and even though you can guess at the ending, it's a very enjoyable read. I recommend this to all readers of erotic fiction.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Didi Ps.
876 reviews
June 12, 2020
Cat meets Dom when a sex chair he made for a client is mixed up with her order. His reaction to this is to offer to show her how it works... Quite an interesting beginning to a story.

They both agree to a friends with benefits situation, but end up slowly becoming more. I was pleasantly surprised by Cat’s partner, when she finally showed up. Someone Dom doesn’t like ends up causing trouble for her business & things come to a head...

The only thing missing is the discussion by the city council members about the permit... The emergency meeting that was scheduled should have been included in the book, with Dom arguing about the problem caused by Wexler...

Despite this, this was a nice story with a few surprises.
Profile Image for Rose Howse.
914 reviews15 followers
February 1, 2019
I loved this sweet story of Cat, a master brewer opening up a brewpub in a small town that has Dom, the master carpenter. There is a mess up with the delivery of a sex chair made for someone else being delivered to Cat's beer pub, instead of her bar. The mix up starts an obsession of Cat for Dom and Dom for Cat. Not everything goes as smoothly as the strong attraction that they have for each other, but problems have solutions and hot kinky sex can smooth over a lot of indecisions, if any appear. I enjoyed how Cat and Dom worked with each other and how easily Dom slipped into the role of a caring boyfriend in spite of his vows to never get hooked up with a forever relationship.
576 reviews8 followers
January 14, 2023
simply excellent!

What a joy to read! Yes, there’s lots of hawtness, but the story is terrific, the writing spot-on, the characters are extremely appealing and the beer - well, what could ever be wrong with learning more about beer?

Even though there was lots of naughty bits, it didn’t seem so in your face. And just having this extremely entertaining couple, a small town setting, and a fun woman-run business to watch start up made this book worth reading.

But I’ve got to ask: what’s with the cover photo? Sorry, but the model just isn’t what I’d picture, and he seems to be missing a couple of important body details…
Profile Image for Darcy.
2,208 reviews25 followers
August 22, 2018
I absolutely adore this story. It is so sweet and enduring with a bit of edginess to it. It will make you laugh out loud and yet you also can't help but fell the love throughout the story. I loved Cat and Dom together. Their characters have so much personality and chemistry that it wants to melt my Ipad. I loved the writing and well it is developed. The support characters are amazing. I loved Dom's mom. She just cracked me up at times. This is an all around great story that will not disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Catherine Coffman.
751 reviews6 followers
August 30, 2018
Tara has a way of writing books that suck you in from the beginning.

Cat career is mainly a mans job. She makes beer and she’s very good at it. Cat and her friend decide to open their own brewery in a small tourist town. She likes to have a to-do list to make sure she’s on tract but starting a new business has made her max her credit cards out and left her with hardly no money. She lives in an old cabin with no furniture and even worse hardly any heat.

Dom loves women but he only wants no commitment sex. That’s all he has to offer. Dom is a craftsman making wood pieces.

After a delivery mix up where the bar goes to his friend and the sex chair goes to the brewery that’s when Cat and Dom meet. The sparks fly when the first meet. Dom is honest from the beginning with Cat. He’s willing to offer her hot sex with no commitments. Cat’s not that type of girl but she can’t fight the attraction she has toward Dom.

Dom and Cat’s story is hot!! I love the way Cat can be a spitfire with Dom. I stayed up half the night because I couldn’t put the book down.


I do hope Tara writes Daisy (Dom’s twin) story.
3,052 reviews21 followers
August 23, 2018
Cat is ready to run her own brewery, she and her best friend are moving to the small town of Madison to open a brewpub. Dom is a carpenter and owns a shop in town, he likes woman, but he isn't interested in a commitment. Sparks will fly, and eventually love will bloom, when Cat confronts Dom about a mix up in the delivery of her new bar. Sexy and funny read with fun, well written characters. I think this is a must read romantic comedy. Fantastic book, I loved it!

I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this book.
Profile Image for Sandi Ramirez.
1,864 reviews17 followers
August 25, 2018
Hot carpenter meets Brewmaster

What a hot quick read by Author Tara Crescent. Cat and her friend Vicky are opening a microbrewery in a small town in Canada. Only problem is Cat has to do most of the prep work alone. She meets the h0t carpenter Dom when there is a mix up on their bar counted top delivery. You have to read and discover the mix up yourself... So funny. This book has all the bells & whistles and so much more. ..so happy to see one of my favorite authored back hitting "publish" again.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,296 reviews22 followers
August 26, 2018
I really, really, enjoyed reading this book. Tara Crescent has written a wonderful book, with a great, romantic story, that is also steamy hot, and such a fun read. Dom, yes, that is his name, is a very sexy, sweet carpenter, that makes beautiful furniture. Cat, or also known as kitty cat, brews her own beer, and is opening up her own brewpub with her best friend. I really like both of these characters. They are both strong, responsible people, that have a chemistry that is off the charts. This book has just the right amount of romance, hotness, and fun. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jo-Ann Forrest.
3,012 reviews25 followers
September 1, 2018
I haven’t laughed and felt good after reading a book in a while. This one is one of those entertaining, fun read.Kat is strong and full of life, she is also a brewmaster who just got taken to the cleaners by her ex. She decides to leave the big city for a small town and open her brewpub. There she meets Dom, a sexy carpenter, who doesn’t want a relationship. They can’t deny their chemistry, yet Kat wants more and is Dom ready to give it to her? A great fun, sassy, sexy story that will enttertain you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jess.
1,096 reviews21 followers
October 15, 2018
Loved the characters

Characters = 5/5
Plot = 4/5
Romance = 4/5
Mystery = 1/5
Action =  1/5
Darkness = 1/5
Humor = 1/5
Stars =  4 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Would I recommend this book = Yes
Would I read future books by this author = Yes

Great characters! I enjoyed a woman doing a job in the male dominated filled. Cat and Dom are great together too. He is so protective of her and makes sure she is well taken care of.
My only take away with this book was the lack of drama/action. I would have loved more of it .
Profile Image for Alethia.
1,023 reviews16 followers
May 31, 2020
Hard Wood

This book is the reason I got nothing done today. I loved it front to back and every page in between. Cat and Dom were awesome to read about. I loved their banter and inner dialogues. This book had many funny moments as well as serious. It struck just the right tone to suck me in and make me race to the finish and regret it ending all the same. I loved the author's voice in the story and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
911 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2020
Fun is Brewing

A fast paced exciting story of adventure... And discovery. I love Tara Crescent's dominant males... They are a throbbing mass of maleness... But also so very sweet. The wood crafted sex furniture is an interesting twist... I hope Dom is called in to creatine more sexy furniture in his sister's story... I always want to give Tara's books10********** because they are so fun and easy to read... The story always flows so well and is very engaging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews